peds

I know what you mean, I really do. I think any kind of leylandii or cypress out in the middle of a field, on its own, like you get as specimen trees on big estates, are absolutely stunning. I hate a leylandii hedge, but a big tree can be beautiful. As soon as you go snipping into it though... you'll be starting a cycle of problems for the tree that you'll find it difficult to keep on top of, especially with that big wound low down. My advice would be to either keep the tree or don't, but don't go creating new problems by doing half a job.

I have a brand new collie, but I think it might be defective, or part sloth at least. He's so happy to be left asleep in the van.

Having never had my finger on the trigger, I'd be inclined to say the same thing. But the man in the Stihl shop the other day told me it could...

Well, I mean... no... unless you want to do this? That'll reduce the height without taking the top off.

Taking the top off a leylandii will only make it angry, and instead of one top, in fewer years than you think you'll have half a dozen replacement tops wanting to snap off in a storm. You won't keep on top of the maintenance (be honest with yourself here), it'll escape. Get rid, plant six more (appropriate) trees around your property, sit back and watch them grow.

No no, he's right. You can take it all off, over 3 years. Start off by removing anything dead, damaged, or vertical, then get three colours of tape or ribbon, and tie a bit to every branch coming off what you might think of as the bare bones framework of the tree, each colour spread evenly around the crown, ⅓ each. This winter, take off one colour. Next winter, take off a second colour. Next winter, take off the last colour. Pretty f*cking stiff, as Mick says.

Apples are never a lost cause. A stiff haircut over a 3 to 5 year plan and they'll be good as new.

I don't remember seeing him this summer, but two and three years ago I saw a fella cycling around town with a similar setup - but a Stihl battery mower, not a chipper - and a selection of Stihl cordless tools. Obviously going for the zero emissions crowd. It must have been going well enough for him, because last summer (2023), I saw that he had upgraded to a tandem! Fair play to the guy. Edit: with regards to your ongoing conundrum, yeah, you'll definitely need at least 2 batteries, especially if you hope to be working for someone else... it'll be tricky enough to convince some people on the day-long efficacy of battery tools as it is, especially as a ground saw, without you burning through all of your available power. It'd be hugely embarrassing. Personally, I'm still of the opinion that you'd need a bigger petrol saw, for now, as well as your battery saw... but who knows what improvements in technology we'll see in the future. But some people say that the 300 can match a 50cc saw all-day, I don't know.

Very true, fingers crossed as much as possible of what they've got there gets swallowed up in the advance.

So you're suggesting an alternative, more nefarious cargo, packed somewhere else, to throw them off the scent? Will do.

Someone with a wealth of knowledge about the TPO side of things will be along shortly to answer the meat of your questions, but in the meantime, what species is/was the tree, and would you mind sharing a few photos of the casualty? This will help people offer advice on the best way to about getting rid of the evidence. An 8m goat willow is not the same animal as an 8m monkey puzzle!

Cheers Mike, good to hear. I'll wrap it up well. I was definitely going to call easyjet beforehand to get the official line, although with mentioning no specifics to my actual booking... but I'd have thought a note on the outside of the luggage would cause more problems than it solves... what they don't know can't hurt them, why draw attention to something that would only stress them out unnecessarily? Where were you working at Gatwick Bob_z_l?

"His plane" was shot down... the question is, was he on it? His family, apparently, all escaped to Russia in recent days... now, if I wanted to escape to Russia too, with the bare minimum of people coming looking for me after the fact, I'd probably consider having my plane shot down as a showpiece while I leave the country hidden under the seats of a battered old Hilux. Either way... he's no longer in charge. Seems to be a big win for Ukraine, too, having another Russian-backed regime crumble away. Good for them!

Bringing a 357 from Birmingham to Belfast next Sunday, hopefully. Will follow all advice already given on this thread... drain, breathe, clean, etc... Anyone lost a chainsaw at an airport in the decade since this thread was last current?

Ahhhh yes. Well remembered.

Ah right, yeah I think I see how that would cause a problem... instead of the braid squeezing the twist out as it happens, so it were, having a swivel would kind of carry it along and drop it somewhere else that can't deal with it... if that makes sense.

You found it caused twisting? I'd have thought that was the one single problem they've been designed to solve! Are you sure you didn't have it on upside down, back to front, or inside out?

Wow, really? I'm game to try it, but I'd say the best hopes for long-term survival are leaving it supine... the tree is right on the west coast, it's definitely got more storms in the future, whether it stays on the ground or is dragged upright again... I don't think it'd cope with another gust like the one that knocked it...

The idea was that a third of the population was informed they'd be sent off to colonise a new planet, and so departed in a fleet of starships. It turns out the entire crew consisted of what we might consider useless professions... car salesmen, hairdressers, I forget who exactly. There was no planet, they just flew around the galaxy in circles.

Yo Rich, are you asking about swivels in general, or specifically in this application, on the Rope Runner? I flipping LOVE using a swivel at the masterpoint in our rope rescue setup, joining a Clutch or an ID to our bear paw or BFK at the anchors, they are a huge help in getting everything set out smoothly. Well worth the money if you're stuck with a few spare quid. On my climbing harness though, I only have a cheapo Zigzag with no built-in swivel, but I've got around this by attaching it to the bridge ring with a short sling, either doubled or quadrupled over, which also puts it at a more ergonomic position. It doesn't give infinite rotations through 360° like a bought swivel would, but it definitely takes the brunt of it. Decent budget alternative.

Storm Darragh says no flying today. Have booked a new flight from Belfast tomorrow, instead.

Gonna bump this one, with a different kind of unhealthy apple tree. A previous customer just sent me these, his apple tree got eaten by Darragh (I did his spruce and sycamore, didn't touch the apple tree except mulching it with chip... I definitely didn't knock it over!). I've seen sideways apple trees still growing decades after they've fallen though, so I'm not writing it off just yet. What I've recommended, IF he wants to try and preserve the tree, is pruning a bit of the oldest and densest growth from the crown, covering the exposed root plate still in the ground with soil/compost/chip, feeding it heavily in early spring, and pruning out any dead wood when (IF) the tree wakes up later in the spring. I'm going to try and graft any good wood I can find onto some rootstocks I have spare, too, just for the hell of it. The tree has sentimental value, it's a childhood home, so I think he'd like to try and keep it if reasonably possible. Anything else you'd recommend?

Try singing to her.

Bump Anyone hate the Edelrid Talon? I guess Swinny would, as the spike looks pretty high...

Ah, f*ck off then, ya bollox.